Untitled - Electric Scotland

1863-67] THE IMPOSITION OF VOWS 457
ship s character, which feeling,
if I may be permitted to say it, is
entirely shared by us all.
"With many and renewed apologies, I have the honour to
be your Lordship s most obedient, humble servant,
" DEAR
The Bishop of London to Mr. -.
"FULHAM PALACE, LONDON, S.W.,
Dec. 27, 1865.
SIR, I beg to acknowledge your letter of yesterday s
date. There is no warrant for supposing that I in any way
approve of Sisterhoods in which perpetual vows are administered.
I have on more than one occasion stated publicly my belief that
all vows or oaths administered under the circumstances you
describe, not being sanctioned by the legislature, and being taken
by persons not authorised to receive them, are of the nature of
illegal oaths. It is a grave question whether a clergyman of the
Church of England, administering such an oath, does not make
himself amenable to prosecution before the magistrates. Cer
tainly he acts in a most improper manner. 1 In all sisterhoods or
associations of ladies, members of the Church of England, to
which I have given my approval, I have been most careful to
impress upon the associates that neither must any such oath be
taken, nor is there any sort of obligation binding on the con
science, without an oath, to dedicate any larger time than is found
conveniently compatible with other duties, to the work which the
sisterhood or association promotes. I do fully approve of ladies
who have no home duties, and who think they are fitted for such
work, associating themselves together for the care of the poor and
the sick. Such an institution, under my presidency, is St. John s
1
Surprise and even amusement have sometimes been excited by the
Bishop s frequent reference to the legal question involved in the imposition of
a binding vow or oath. It is, therefore, noteworthy (as has been pointed
out to the writer of this chapter by one of the foremost living authorities upon
English Sisterhoods) that, whatever the cogency of the Bishop s argument,
its importance has received a curious illustration during the last few years.
It is understood that since, in Roman Catholic countries, the State has with
drawn its support from religious communities, modifications as to the use
of permanent life-vows have been made, their legal enforcement being no
longer possible.